Dude. This is deep

Two Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

I NEED MY MEDICATION

putputputputputput

Yes folks, it's that time of year again.
Time to bring out the scooter.

What's a scooter, you ask?

Well... a scooter is like a motorcycle wanna-be. Ours only runs on 80 cc's.

Very small.

A very small motorcycle runs on 125. That doesn't make it less fun to ride though :)

However, you can't drive ours on any highways.
You can't drive ours in heavy traffic.
You can't drive ours for a long time.
And you can't go over 35 mph (technically, you can, but it doesn't usually)

Yep. That's what a scooter is. And we have one.

Can you tell we're dorks?

Operation 13/28

Hey guys,
This is somewhat of a serious post, so please listen up.

Ironic much? You can't listen... you're reading this.

Anyway, my church is sending a mission team to Zambia this summer and I know a bunch of people that are going. However, the cost is something of a menace. They need help fund raising and I'm asking all you blog readers out there to come to the rescue.

One of my friends has set up a blog and, if you could, please check it out. All the information about the trip is there.

http://operation1328.blogspot.com/

Thanks a lot!!

Tia

Hey

Hey.

Bad Balladry Friday

This week on "Bad Balladry Friday", I shall show you a parody written by me :)

The real poem-

Trees by Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.


My version...edited by the authority :'( -

Whiskey by Tia Graham

I think that I shall never see
A drink as bad as good whiskey

A drink whose yummy taste is prest
Against the knocked out fellows chest

A drink that people praise all day
Only to have wives leave someday

A drink that drunken think is fair
That's why they drink it in their lair

Upon the bar where many gain
Happiness now, but tomorrow pain

Sometimes life is full of glee
But it can be messed up by good whiskey









(yes, this is a knock-off of anyone who does "Bad Haiku Friday")

Can you say moo?

In these tense political times, I've decided to do what I epically fail to try to do best. Humor you!

Using cows, Ann Landers shows what each form of government is like.

Socialism: You have two cows. Give one cow to your neighbor.

Communism: You have two cows. Give both cows to the government, and they may give you some of the milk.

Fascism: You have two cows. You give all of the milk to the government, and the government sells it.

Nazism: You have two cows. The government shoots you and takes both cows.

Anarchism: You have two cows. Keep both of the cows, shoot the government agent and steal another cow.

Capitalism: You have two cows. Sell one cow and buy a bull.

What's your favorite out of the few? I prefer Anarchism ;)

...just kidding...

CFL: Good or Evil?

Since all of America is turning into tree-huggers I decided to do a post about CFL light bulbs.
Everyone says they are better.
Right?

But are they?

Alright let's look at what people are saying. It'll be in red and my comments in black.

CFL light bulbs have a longer lasting life

Yes, that's true. But only if you're the kind of person who lives by themselves and leaves lights on all day. CFL's only last long if they are left on for a good amount of time each time you flip the switch. But if you have toddlers that like to flip switches (which most toddlers do) then the light is going to wear out very quickly. CFL's can't be turned on and off a lot because it wears them out. What you have in the end is a 1 month old burnt-out light bulb. Our CFL bulbs burn out faster than the regular ones. We have taken them back to the store many times.


CFL light bulbs use less energy

Ok- so I'm going to go back to my other point. If you turn them on and off a lot then they will get worn out. Here's the process...
1. Buy a CFL light bulb
2. Use CFL light bulb feeling good about yourself
3. CFL light bulb wears out in one month
4. Use ENERGY to drive your car to the store to get more.
4. Pollution from car gas

CFL's are good for the envirorment

CFLs are manufactured to contain 4 mg of mercury per light bulb. If CFLs become widespread, so does the inherent danger of mercury exposure. To give some context to that amount, a typical natural tuna in the U.S. contains about 0.2 mg/kg body weight, which translates into 0.24 ppm mercury in canned tuna. The EPA may suggest that this amount of mercury is negligible and poses no threat to human health or longterm environmental contamination, but even a junior high school chemistry student knows not to trust the government's insistence that a broken mercury thermometer does not threaten an individual's health. In actuality, the current EPA reference dose--the dose below which adverse effects are not recognized--is 0.1 micrograms/kg/day (0.1 micrograms = 0.0001 mg). Because of biological sensitivity to mercury, it is a serious consideration in both production and disposal.



I found that last paragraph on this website http://laraness.livejournal.com/1462.html

And what about that fact? What if the bulb breaks? This was helpful...


CFL packaging does not instruct the consumer what to do if a bulb breaks, let alone warn that they contain mercury and phosphorous powder. The Freedom Enterprise Action Fund is taking the initiative and in May 2007 announced that they are petitioning the Consumer Safety Product Commission (CSPC) to include mercury warnings on CFL packaging.


Also from the above website...


Now, please don't take this the wrong way. I am all for helping the Earth become a better place.
But can't we do it correctly and without having our skin turn green by the light of CFL light bulbs?

Thr3e

I recently read on a post on guitargirl's blog and the title was "Thr3e"

I decided to write about that book because it's just so awesome.

It's about a guy with MPD ( I won't tell you what that is cause it'll ruin the book)
But it's such a thriller it's insane. I usually don't like those kind of books but this one totally changed my view. It's so, so, so cool.

Did I mention I like it?

I don't think I did.

I like it.

If there is any book I'll ever recommend it's this one. Even for people who don't like scary stuff. Cause it's not too scary. But It's definitely the kind of book that you can't put down. It's awesome.
That's all I'm going to say because I don't want to ruin it.

But seriously, read it.

Aunt Lala, this would be a book I'd recommend. I think you were asking me about that during Christmas time.
Thr3e by Ted Dekker.

The title all makes sense at the end of the book.

This is just to say

This is just to say
By William Carlos Williams

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold


Even though that has absolutely nothing to do with what I'm about to
say... I thought of it when I typed in the title. So there it is.
A poem that isn't really a poem.


In another case... I'm going to state the topic that I was really thinking
of when I typed that in.

Today is my grandmothers birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She turns 20!! ;-D

Well... maybe not. But she's 20 at heart :)


HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wuzzup

Hey people of earth,

Wuzzup.
Nothing new here.
Unless being bored can be counted as a new thing.
Which I don't believe it can...

Final piece

Alrighty. I think I like this. I went for the 3 column background cause the 2 makes it look crowded.


I went back to the Pink Panther sax player cause... let's be honest. You can't get much better than that.

Background and banner

Hi everyone.
I was getting a little bored of the old background and banner.

Background more so than the banner.

But the background came with a matching banner so I figured what the heck. May as well.

I'm not sure what to think of it.
It may be a little too serious for this blog.
Could you comment and tell me what you think?

Thanks so much :)

LATER-


Alright, so how does everyone like it now?

Thoughtful Thursday

Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils ...

- Louis Hector Berlioz

Shakespeare

But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief
That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she.

Anyone who has lived in a family that has anything to do with theater can name the play that line came from, the speaker, and who he is speaking too.
Of course, who he is speaking to is kind of given away in the second line.
In any case it is an extremely famous quote. And growing up in a family that has theatrics to spare has given me an appreciation for Shakespeare that I know a lot of people don't have.

He is difficult to read, yes. But the man was pure genius.

Everything he wrote was in iambic pentameter which is, in my opinion, the hardest form of meter there is.
I just got done reading Julius Caesar and I (among 8 other people) was the only one who liked it. Sure, everyone else thought he was genius because of the difficult way in which he wrote... but if I'm not mistaken, (which I most likely am, so correct me if I'm wrong) I was the only one who said "I loved it" in our group discussion about the play.

Maybe it's because I grew up in a Shakespeare centered family.

Maybe it's because we have two copies of "Shakespeare's Complete Works" which has every play he ever wrote in it.

Maybe it's because of the way my aunts can read a line written for Juliet and make me believe that it was written for them.

Maybe it's because I'm weird.

I don't know why, all I know is that by the time this year is out I plan to have read all of his plays.

I like them.
:)

"Oh happy dagger!"

Don't abuse the pushovers...

In a group of friends you have a mix of different people.
You have:
The Leader,
The Life of the Party,
The Person You Can Tell Anything To,
and...
The Pushover.

I'm the pushover.

I'll be honest with you.
I'm not a very strong personality.
In some ways, it's a good thing... others.... not so much.

It's good cause I get along pretty well with almost everyone.

If someone asks me to go and get them a chair from the opposite side of the room because they want to sit down, I'll get it.

If someone wants something thrown away, I'll do it.

Now, even though those are good things... they can be brought to the extreme

You can be known as "the girl who will do anything."

On the bright side, you will be mutually liked. People will say "Aw, she's awesome, cause she'll do anything for anyone."

On the not so bright side... you get worked constantly and you tend to get a little cramped.

Then you get into trouble.

That's not fun.

I'm not a fan of getting into trouble.

It's not something I like.

But alas, I actually like doing stuff for people.

It's fun whenever someone you are just getting to know asks you to do something (like going to the other end of the pool to get them a drink) and then watch their faces as you go.

That's the good part :)

The iPod wonder

What is it that some people have against iPod's?

Do any of you have something against them?

I find them wonderful. Especially when you get out of cleaning your room because you couldn't hear since you had your cousin's music playing.

Besides that, they bring people together.
Imagine a girl who'd been dying for the iPod Touch saw someone sitting down while they were at a kid science convention. This kid had the exact model our girl wanted.
The girl had never met this person before, but since they were in a relatively safe environment, the girl decides to be friendly and strike up a conversation.
The iPod comes in handy when an awkward moment arrives and saves the two girls from embarrassment.

It's a conversation piece.

Anyone who has a problem with it, lemme give you a helpful hint...

Get over it.

Not one person cares about why you don't like it. Everyone else likes it.

I mean, jeez, they are so much fun, too.
Especially the iPod Touch
Whenever I see my cousins,. we play with it.
We hang out.
We talk.
I have one cousin who loves, loves, loves Star Wars.
I use the light saber app and move it around and he laughs like there is no tomorrow.

It's good for the soul, not to mention how calming music can be sometimes.

I'm sure most of you know what I mean.


Do you have an iPod?

What kind?

Do you like it?

I do.

HAPPY EASTER

He is risen!

Happy Easter everyone.

Enjoy Him :)

Hey guys

Hey guys!

I wanted to say Happy Day Before Easter.

Cause it's the day before Easter.

And to all you people reading this and realizing you haven't "helped" the Easter bunny out yet by buying some candy... you better slip on your bunny slippers and go to the almighty place of forgiveness.

I don't know what they call it where you are... but over here, it's called "Wal-Mart"

I'm sure the Easter bunny will understand if you jet out and still get enough candy to make your loved one gain at least 10 pounds.

That's all that matters :)


Happy Easter!!!

Good Friday- 3 hours of silence.

"They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. 'Hail, king of the Jews!' they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again...From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?'—which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' ...And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit."

-Matthew 27

On Good Friday every year, we try to stay silent from 12 to 3.

Just as a time to reflect on the cross.

It's actually really nice.

Except when a certain 8 year old sister comes in your room and ruins everything...

but we won't talk about that now...


Have a great Good Friday.

Sad of a time... a time of sad

So my best friend that I grew up with in the "other state" where I lived was supposed to come up for Easter.

BUT...

She couldn't.

I feel like a crybaby, but I really wanted her to come!! I'm all sad now that she can't.

On the bright side, she might come up in May for a whole week instead of just 5 days. So that's cool.


BUT I WANT HER NOW

:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(



Yeah. Definitely a crybaby.

April Haiku

Please, excuse me if
I'm wrong, but isn't April
Supposed to be warm???


Yes. This is really happening.
Snow in April.

THIS IS NOT RIGHT.

Its just not.

It's evil.

It hates me.


WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS???


And no! Not just light flakes!! But SNOW that STICKS to the GROUND.

Seriously! I mean come on! Sunday was like 73 degrees!!!
Why is this happening to me?
Why did I move to Pittsburgh?

I need Florida and I need it fast.

LIAR

ok- I lied.

Due to a 10 page essay that needs to be written, I can't post today.


Sorry!

Coming soon...

Hey guys sorry I haven't posted lately... busy bee has been me...
I'll post a bunch of pics tomorrow :)

Tagged

I was tagged by Emily Joy to do this incredibly long quiz...


Starting Time: 11:47
Name: Tia
Sisters: 3
Brothers: 0
What are you wearing? White SF aquatics shirt and mickey mouse shorts B-D
Favorite Number: 16
Favorite Drink: orange juice
Favorite Month: July cause of Family Beach Week
Favorite Breakfast: food
Love someone so much who made you cry? eh
Broken a bone: 35
Been in a police car: every other week when I rob the school secretary of her pen
Been on a boat? does my yacht count?
Came close to dying: I'm already dead
Been in a hot tub: I own 10 hot tubs, but only go in 1
Swam in the ocean: CHA
Fallen asleep in school: hehehe... none of your business :)
Cried when someone died: yeah
Fallen off your chair: pssssh.... yes

**************** What is**************

Your room like? multi-colored bright pink and green (I'm actually serious on this one)
What’s right beside you? air
What is the last thing you ate? Wedding soup lol

--------------------- Ever had --------------------

Chicken pox: I always have it
Sore throat: yeah
Stitches:yupp. they are still engrained in my head and will forever

-------------------- Do You -----------------------

Like picnics? yeah I do
Like School? eh...

------------------------ Questions ---------------------

Who was the last person you danced with? my daddy I think

Who makes you smile? buds
Who Did you last yell at? hehe myself
Do you like filling these out? eh... quizzes are cool I guess
Do you like yourself? I don't know anyone named yourself...

-------------------Final Questions---------------------------
What are you listening to right now? My dad on the phone with some important business dude
Do you hate someone in your family? yes. matt parker. JKJKJKJKJKJKJK I love you matt!!!! lol what tricks are you playing on me this year??
What car do you wish to have? the invisable hovercraft. it's quite the new thing
Good singer? HA naw
Indoors or outdoors? outdoors i guess

-------------------------- Today did you ----------------------------

Talk to someone you like? sure... why not?
Get sick? yes. I have influenza, tuberculocis (sp?) and a 110 fever.
Sing? maybe...
Miss someone? all my best friends in maryland

---------------------Last person who ----------------------
You talked to on the phone with? my best bud from MD :)
Made you cry? Tia... she's mean
Went to the mall with? I think it was ________. yupp definitely _________
Been to Europe? naw
Been to Asia? Nope.
Been to Russia? nu huh
Been to the Bahamas? No.
Been to Mexico? yes....I sell all my "stuff" down there... not
Been to Canada? nah
Been to Africa? I WISH... stupid 9th grade requirment...

----------------Random-----------------------
What books are you reading right now? Jane Eyre

Best feeling in the world? Laughter

Future kids name? Alessa....
Do you sleep with a stuffed animal? yes. his name is cuddles. I love my cuddles. you gotta problem with that?
What's under your bed? well, duh. it's the scary monster. everyone has had one since they could talk
Favorite location? with my friends
Who do you really hate? arrogance
Do you have a job? cha... just got my first paycheck :) it's a fun time.
Are you lonely right now? not really
Time Finished: 12:02

I'm not going to tag anyone... if you want to do it be my guest. If not.... then not.

Someone say spaghetti?

Spaghetti?
How many kinds are there?

Pssh, who knows?? Not me. That's for sure.

But, Italians should know this stuff.
Italians should know allot of stuff.

Oh well...

So a little while back my uncle sent me an email that was titled "Forty Things in the Life on an Italian Child"
It was awesome.
I read it over, and over, and over and never got tired.

Why?

Because my mom said allot of the stuff was true. And I could totally picture her doing some of these things.
Anyway, for those of you who care... here is the email.

The ones that are red are the ones my mom said were true or somewhat true in her life.

*********************************************

01.You have at least one relative who wore a black dress every day for an entire year after a funeral.

02.You spent your entire childhood thinking what you ate for lunch was pronounced "sangwich."

03.Your family dog understood Italian.

04. Every Sunday afternoon of your childhood was spent visiting your grandparents and extended family.

05. You've experienced the phenomena of 150 people fitting into 50 square feet of yard during a family cookout.

06.You were surprised to discover the FDA recommends you eat three meals a day, not seven.

07.You thought killing the pig each year and having salami, capacollo, pancetta and prosciutto hanging out to dry from your shed ceiling was absolutely normal.

08.You ate pasta for dinner at least three times a week, and every Sunday.

09.You grew up thinking no fruit or vegetable had a fixed price and that the price of everything was negotiable through haggling.

10.You were as tall as your grandmother by the age of seven.

11.You thought everyone's last name ended in a vowel.

12.You thought nylons were supposed to be worn rolled to the ankles.

13.You're mom's main hobby is cleaning.

14.You were surprised to find out that wine was actually sold in stores.

15.You thought that everyone made their own tomato sauce

16.You never ate meat on Christmas Eve or any Friday for that matter.

17.You ate your salad after the main course.

18.You thought Catholic was the only religion in the world.

19. Your were beaten at least once with a wooden spoon or broom.

20.You thought every meal had to be eaten with a hunk of bread in your left hand.

21.You can understand Italian but you can't speak it.

22.You have at least one relative who came over on the boat.

23.All of your uncles fought in a World War.

24.You have at least six male relatives or friends named Tony, Frank, Joey or Louie.

25.You have relatives who aren't really your relatives.

26.You have relatives you don't speak to.

27.You drank wine before you were a teenager.

28.You relate on some level, admit it, to the Godfather and the Sopranos.

29.You grew up in a house with a yard that didn't have one patch of dirt that didn't have a flower or a vegetable growing out of it.

30.Your grandparent's furniture was as comfortable as sitting on plastic.

Wait!!!! You WERE sitting on plastic.

31.You thought that talking loud was normal.

32.You thought sugared almonds and the Tarantella were common at all weddings.

33.You thought everyone got pinched on the cheeks and money stuffed in their pockets by their relatives.

34.Your mother is overly protective of the males in the family no matter what their age.

35.There was a crucifix in every room of the house.

36.You couldn't date a boy without getting approval from your father. (oh, and he had to be Italian)

37.You called pasta "macaroni".

38.You dreaded taking out your lunch at school

39. Going out for a cup of coffee usually meant going out for a cup of coffee over Zia's house.

40 Every condition, ailment, misfortune, memory loss and accident was attributed to the fact that you didn't eat something.
****************************

Well, there it is.

The Life of an Italian Child.






Also... I have a follower name kgreen... but I can't find what blog they have because of the new dumb follower thing... could you comment and and tell me the name of your blog?? Thanks so much!!

How to fail math tests with dignity

I'm sure our teachers would love this....